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Durham, N.C. — Former Wake Forest baseball player Allan Dykstra needed just one home run in the final round Monday at the Triple-A Home Run Derby to send his family and friends home happy. It came on his second swing as he defeated Omaha’s Francisco Pena.

“My brother, girlfriend and a few former teammates all made it out,” Dykstra said. “It was important to me to have my family and teammates here.”

Dykstra hit three home runs in the first round and four in the second to earn his way into a championship showdown against Pena, who slugged eight In the first two rounds.

After Pena went homerless in the final round, Dykstra needed just the one longball to claim his 10-pound gold belt. It took him just two swings.

Dykstra, a San Diego native, was an All-ACC first baseman at Wake Forest before becoming a first-round selection of the San Diego Padres in 2008. He now plays in the New York Mets' system for the Las Vegas 51’s.

Durham Bulls outfielder Mike Mahtook and the most experienced hitter in the field, Reno’s Mike Jacobs, each went homerless in their first round and were eliminated.

Columbus infielder Jesus Aguilar hit three home runs in the first round to advance, but after just one in the second round, he was eliminated.

Indianapolis’ Matt Hague was credited with hitting the famed bull in left field during the second round, earning the 10,160 in attendance a free steak taco from Moe’s, but with just six home runs through two rounds, he too fell short of the final.

Prior to the contest, the International League’s all-time home run leader Mike Hessman withdrew with a knee injury. Former Durham Bull Dan Johnson had to take his name out after he was called up to the Toronto Blue Jays just days before the event. Mahtook and Hague replaced the two players, respectively

The Triple-A All-Star Game will be Wednesday ay 7 p.m. at DBAP. Gates will open at 5:30.

Doc HollidayJul 16, 2014

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You are so right. I remember my senior year at Pinecrest we had four on our team. We made it to the eastern finals and lost to a undefeated southern Wayne team in 1985. One of my good friends and teammate at St. Augs from LaGrange had one of the sweetest swings I have ever seen. We talk about this all the time. Remember the 79 pirates? That team was full of black players, Madlock, Lacy, Parker, Stargell, Bibby. You don't see it now at all. Football, Basketball, Baseball we played it all when I was growing up.

— Posted by Toddler10-21

Remember the Pirates well....great team.

HammerheadJul 16, 2014

Thought you guys might be interested in this:http://sabr.org/bioproj/topic/baseball-demographics-1947-2012My favorite players as a kid were Hank Aaron, Fergie Jenkins, Billy Williams and Luis Aparicio.

Toddler10-21Jul 16, 2014

You are so right. I remember my senior year at Pinecrest we had four on our team. We made it to the eastern finals and lost to a undefeated southern Wayne team in 1985. One of my good friends and teammate at St. Augs from LaGrange had one of the sweetest swings I have ever seen. We talk about this all the time. Remember the 79 pirates? That team was full of black players, Madlock, Lacy, Parker, Stargell, Bibby. You don't see it now at all. Football, Basketball, Baseball we played it all when I was growing up.

Doc HollidayJul 16, 2014

...countries because that's their primary sport. When it comes down to it, it's a cultural thing. Certain communities push certain sports and I think it's a popularity thing most of the time. Baseball doesn't get the same attention as football/hoops . IMO

Regarding kids, white-black-other, it's only natural for kids to want be like the players they admire. We hear about NFL/NBA players all the time...not so much with baseball unless it's the playoffs.

At the same time, it helps to understand your abilities and what sport works best for you. Loved playing football & baseball growing up but realized at a certain point that baseball was my sport, went that direction.

When it comes down to it, kids are going to play the sport they feel most comfortable playing...just an opinion.

Doc HollidayJul 16, 2014

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So many great pitchers Koufax, Gibson, Guidry, Seaver, Catfish, Gooden could have been one of the greatest. My dad and I talk all the time about all the great blacks that played. Now you hardly have any on major league rosters. Why is that? We think its all about basketball now a days. Kids probably are better at other sports, but don't play. We asked a couple kids when I went home for the US Open why they don't play baseball? They said its too hot, boring, scared of the ball, and the girls don't like baseball LOL. If these kids only knew what Jackie Robinson went through! MJ, Kobe, LeBron are all great athletes, but they should take a look at Jeter!!!! Love me some baseball!

— Posted by Toddler10-21

You asked why they don't have that many blacks in baseball these days. Not sure but I'll give it a shot...I remember playing baseball, football, & hoops as a kid. Somebody always had a ball & we'd go play after school. Baseball isn't a sport where you can run out & start playing well without putting in a lot of quality time. Lots of kids/people do consider it to be a boring sport. Not me because I understand what's going on, as do you. You & I both played so we view it differently, T. You don't see the instant gratification in baseball that you see in other sports. For example, you go straight to the NBA/NFL out of college. That ain't happening in baseball.

I grew up in a rural area so I can speak to this. Baseball is popular in rural areas, as are other sports. A big part of it is has to do with cultures. I still see a lot of white kids playing baseball. Now that baseball is on the world stage, you're seeing a lot of players from other..

Toddler10-21Jul 16, 2014

So many great pitchers Koufax, Gibson, Guidry, Seaver, Catfish, Gooden could have been one of the greatest. My dad and I talk all the time about all the great blacks that played. Now you hardly have any on major league rosters. Why is that? We think its all about basketball now a days. Kids probably are better at other sports, but don't play. We asked a couple kids when I went home for the US Open why they don't play baseball? They said its too hot, boring, scared of the ball, and the girls don't like baseball LOL. If these kids only knew what Jackie Robinson went through! MJ, Kobe, LeBron are all great athletes, but they should take a look at Jeter!!!! Love me some baseball!

Good list, T. I'd go with Ryan, Maddux, Johnson, Carlton, Rivera out of the 'pen.

No player in the history of the game could run with Rickey Henderson on the bases. 1400 SBs are off the charts. I recall Rickey & Pete diving into bases often...too bad certain people in the game try & discourage diving. Great tool to use if you know what you're doing. IMO